This course in microbiology consists of three one-hour lectures and one three-hour laboratory session each week. The lectures describe the basic biology of microbial life, with emphasis on bacteria (Domain Bacteria and Domain Archaea) and information on eukaryotic microbes (protists, fungi, and unicellular algae) of Domain Eukarya.

Grades for the course are based on four exams from lecture material together with assessments of practical skills and laboratory reports from the laboratory sessions.

Intended Audience:

The course is required for the Microbiology concentration, and it is appropriate for the Biology and the Cell and Molecular Biology concentrations.

Class Format:

Lecture material in the course is divided into four approximately equal sections.

The first section examines the historical origins of microbiology as a science; bacterial and eukaryal cell structure and function, and bacterial nutrition, cultivation, and carbon and energy metabolsim.

The second section addresses molecular biology of bacteria, including DNA replication, transcription and translation, regulation of gene expression, genomics, and bacterial viruses.

The third section of the course covers microbial evolution, metabolic and ecological diversity, nutrient cycles, and symbiotic interactions.

The final section of the course describes medically related topics, including host-pathogen interactions, epidemiology, immunology, and bacterial, viral, protozoan, and fungal pathogenesis.

The laboratory sessions are designed to guide the development of skill in fundamental aspects of microbiological work, including microscopy, aseptic and pure-culture techniques, experimental manipulation of bacteria, microbial enrichment, and isolation and characterization of bacteria.

Syllabi are available to current LSA students. IMPORTANT: These syllabi are provided to give students a general idea about the courses, as offered by LSA departments and programs in prior academic terms. The syllabi do not necessarily reflect the assignments, sequence of course materials, and/or course expectations that the faculty and departments/programs have for these same courses in the current and/or future terms.